Forget Christmas with your feet up at Chequers, Keir’s already embarking on his first Government reset
(The Center Square) – Paula Scanlan is hopeful the narrative around gender ideology is shifting, especially as Republicans prepare for majorities in both chambers of the 119th Congress and a seat in the White House. “I am hopeful that with the majorities now that we will be able to get across the finish line,” Scanlan told The Center Square on Thursday, speaking of more legislation on the way to protect women's spaces. “Obviously, this goes beyond sports ... So ideally, I think that the biggest thing would be to federally pass something that says this is what a woman is.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.Back when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, wreaking havoc across the world, automakers enjoyed record-high profits as they raised prices because of a shortage of new cars . Now though, that honeymoon period is over, and these companies aren’t in a position to recover without a lot of pain. Automakers around the world like Nissan , Volkswagen and Stellantis are considering massive layoffs and plant closures as they deal with dropping profits and other issues, according to the New York Times . Each of these automakers have their own problems, but there are a lot of similarities to be found, as the Times explains: They include a tricky and expensive technological transition, political turmoil, rising protectionism and the emergence of a new class of fast-growing Chinese carmakers. The many woes raise questions about the future of companies that are a critical source of jobs in many Western and Asian countries. Many of these problems have been apparent for years but became less pressing during the pandemic, lulling some automakers into complacency. When shortages of semiconductors and other components slowed production and limited inventory, carmakers found it easy to raise prices. But that era is over and the industry has reverted to its prepandemic state, with too many carmakers chasing too few buyers. Many car factories around the world are making many fewer cars than they were built to produce. When automakers don’t earn a decent return on their factories and machines, there is “a massive effect on profitability,” said Simon Croom, a professor of supply chain management at the University of San Diego. “The difference between profit and loss is a very fine line in the auto industry.” Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, workers are one of the first groups to suffer when stuff like this happens. Right now, there are over nine million people working worldwide in manufacturing, and a million of them are right here in the U.S. Additionally, over two million Americans work at dealers and other related businesses. Basically, lots and lots of folks work in the automotive industry, so there could be real dire consequences if the ship isn’t righted soon. Here are some of the automakers around the world are doing to contain rising costs and why they’re struggling, according to the Times : Nissan, which has factories in Mississippi and Tennessee, has not detailed where its layoffs will take place. It is not alone in cutting jobs. Ford last month announced 4,000 job cuts, mostly at factories in Britain and Germany. The company cited “unprecedented competitive, regulatory, and economic headwinds.” Ford was partly referring to Chinese carmakers. Barely a factor before the pandemic, they have charged into the international market with cars that can match Japanese, European or American vehicles on quality, at much lower prices. BYD, Chery, SAIC and other Chinese carmakers are still effectively barred from the United States by trade rules and hobbled by tariffs in Europe. But they are pushing into places like Australia, Brazil, Chile and Thailand, luring buyers away from the likes of Fiat, General Motors and Toyota. Competition from China is “starting to hit the safe places that Western carmakers had,” said Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, a research firm. Some of the hardest hit companies are simply doing poorly because they aren’t putting out compelling products, whether it’s an old model lineup or uncompetitive electric vehicles , as the New York Times explains: Companies that were slow to replace aging models are doing worst. That has been the case for Nissan, Stellantis and even Tesla, which analysts expect to end the year with sales that are roughly unchanged from 2023. Others have struggled to build appealing electric vehicles and develop software, an increasingly important element of car design. Volkswagen was among the first established carmakers to develop electric vehicles, but the models underwhelmed buyers and critics. Sales in the United States of the company’s ID.4 sport-utility vehicle plunged by more than half in the third quarter from a year earlier, according to Kelley Blue Book. Buggy software handicapped sales of the ID.4 and other electric models that Volkswagen sells in Europe and Asia. “The Chinese are winning market share and the Germans are losing,” said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research in Bochum, Germany. “It’s not only the electric cars, it’s the software in the cars.” Changing government policy is adding to the carmakers’ woes. Sales of electric vehicles plunged in Germany after the government, facing a budget crisis, abruptly eliminated financial incentives. With all that being said, not every automaker is struggling right now – especially General Motors . Its stock has risen over 40 percent this year as other automakers see drops in their stock prices. The Times explains why this is happening: In part, Wall Street is rewarding G.M. for popular electric vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevrolet Equinox. Mary T. Barra, the G.M. chief executive, has said the company is close to making a profit on electric vehicles, unlike other American carmakers excluding Tesla. But G.M. is also retrenching, announcing last week that it would stop developing robotaxis, autonomous vehicles that can carry passengers without drivers. The decision raised questions about whether established carmakers can compete with Tesla and Waymo, a division of Google’s parent company, in the next generation of automotive technology. Toyota is also doing fairly well for the moment. It has doubled down on hybrids and cut back on its EV plans, and that seems to be working for now. Toyota could be left behind if sales of electric vehicles grow faster than market analysts expect. Prices for battery-powered vehicles are dropping while the distance they can travel on a charge is growing. In China, electric vehicles are already cheaper than comparable gasoline models. More than half of new cars sold there are electric or plug-in hybrids. Stellantis is also doing its best to right the ship following the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares, but it’s not going to be an easy road. Stellantis [...] as new models lined up for 2025. They include several electric vehicles, among them Jeeps, Ram pickups and a Dodge Charger muscle car. The company is also working to repair its relationship with dealers who feel that Stellantis waited too long to lower prices and offer incentives to help them sell cars that were piling up on their lots. Time will tell if these companies are headed in the right direction, but something is very clear: they’re going to have to act quickly, because buyers are becoming less and less willing to pay extremely high prices for cars, and workers are suffering for it. That’s enough from me. Head over to the New York Times for a closer look at what’s happening, including the state of the Chinese car market, why foreign automakers are stuck on the outside looking in and how uncertainty in the U.S. – thanks to Trump – regarding EVs is hurting automakers.CHARLOTTE Crosby has been left heartbroken following the death of her grandma. The reality star, 34, paid tribute to her dad’s mother, who passed away on Boxing Day – leaving the family bereft. Sharing a picture of them together with her daughter Alba, Charlotte shared: “We lost an amazing woman last night, kind, wonderful and the most loving family member. “Always incredibly proud of me and my achievements! And always the very first to boast about me. I will never forget how much she supported me so dearly! We will miss you so much, She loved little Alba so much!” Charlotte’s dad Gary revealed today would have been his mother’s birthday as he shared his own touching words about the loss. In a heartbreaking post, he wrote: “My Mam would have been 80 today, she passed away last night. Read More on Charlotte Crosby “I’m swept away with grief and sadness. I was very close to my Mam, she was just the best Mam anyone could have. She loved Christmas and she made ours when we were kids so very special and memorable. "A kind, generous and gentle little lady. A mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Also a true friend to many that she knew. “She had problems in later life with terrible arthritis and challenging mental health , but she never lost her friendly smile and loving nature.” He added: “Mam, you were so much more than everything.” Most read in Reality Charlotte's fresh heartbreak comes just weeks after her home was burgled which left the TV star terrified. The frightening ordeal occurred last month when Charlotte was upstairs with Alba in their £1 million Sunderland home. Her fiancé Jake , 33, revealed on social media that a gang of masked robbers armed with machetes stormed inside their stunning mansion. The TV personality, who is expecting her second child next month, was rushed to hospital shortly afterwards where it was revealed she had a urine infection.
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalition
CM for acceleration of digitisation process PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday directed the acceleration of the digitisation process in the provincial government departments. “It is the policy and priority of the provincial government to enhance the capacity of government departments and improve transparency, good governance, and service delivery across the sectors,” he told the 16th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) here. The chief minister directed the quarters concerned to immediately complete the remaining work of Digital City Haripur and initiate work on the project for establishing IT Park in Peshawar. He termed appreciated the KPITB’s commitment to driving digital growth and empowering the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the KPITB was playing a pivotal role in shaping the province’s digital future. Earlier, the meeting was told that the Digital Transformation Policy and Roadmap 2030 had been finalised, which would be presented for formal approval at the next provincial cabinet meeting. The comprehensive policy encompasses various key domains, including digital governance, skills development, cyber resilience, emerging technologies, fintech, and digital payments, digital platform infrastructure, climate tech, startup and innovation ecosystem. The meeting reviewed the implementation of decisions made in previous meetings, actions taken under the digital policy, and future course of action.It was informed that over 60 projects have been launched under the KPITB to improve service delivery in the province. Flagship initiatives include the Public Service Delivery Portal (Dastak), Digital Revenue Collection Platform, Digital FinTech Platform (Pamir), Digital Stamp Duty, Motor Vehicle Registration System, and Carbon Credit Portal. The meeting also highlighted the key achievements under digital payment platform, which has processed over 1 million transactions for arms licenses. Similarly, it was informed that the KPITB has made significant progress in digital skills development, with 13,800 youth trained in graphic design, web development, digital marketing, and animation over the past few years, with 37 percent employment in the respective fields. Furthermore, 2,500 youth have been trained in cloud computing and data engineering, with 49 percent securing employment. Under the ongoing initiatives, it was informed, additional 27,000 youth were being trained in various fields, including e-commerce, IT governance, mobile development, social media marketing, computer networking, and cyber security. The officials said that over 7,000 youth from merged districts will also be imparted training in various fields, while the Digital Economy and Skills Center in Mardan will provide training to over 4,000 youth. They further informed that the Digital Internship Programme has also provided internships to 23 youth at the China Accelerator, while over 2,000 youth have received internships at IT Park companies, with 67 percent of them now employed.Monchi breaks silence on Jhon Duran controversy as Aston Villa appeal rejected
McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rulesSkyhawks Sports Announces 2024 Coach of the Year Winner and Finalists
Gaetz saga moves toward final act in HouseBy MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Related Articles National Politics | Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
Naira appreciates against dollar after Christmas holidaysKUALA LUMPUR: In an area known to many as “Mini Dhaka” in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, signs in Bengali, Burmese and Nepali were once a common sight on the walls and pillars of buildings. Following inspections in the past week by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), however, these signs have largely been replaced or removed. The area is a recent target of efforts by city officials to ensure that all business signage prioritise the use of the national language, Malay. But with its Facebook posts last month on enforcement efforts showing only Chinese restaurants, some netizens questioned if the DBKL's actions against the eateries were politically motivated. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad added to the debate when he posted on Facebook on Nov 18 that he had dropped by one of Kuala Lumpur’s shopping complexes and felt he was in China. “All the signboards are in Chinese with English translations. Nothing in Malay. Not at all. So is this Malaysia. Or have we become a part of China,” Dr Mahathir posted. DBKL advisory board member Lai Chen Heng told CNA it was a misconception that only Chinese establishments were targeted in the operations. Action has also been taken against Bangladeshi, Korean and Arabic outlets that did not adhere to DBKL’s by-laws on the national language on signboards, he said. “The law is the law. And the national language is important and must be given prominence,” he said. Checks on the ground by CNA found that DBKL inspections in recent days have also covered businesses catering to migrants from countries such as Bangladesh. Some summonses were issued because the signboards did not follow specifications set by the city council, while others were issued because the signboards differed from what had been submitted to the authorities, said Mr Lai. Mr Lai admitted that the law on signboards was something that the DBKL should have enforced all along, but had not done so for many years. “I have no idea why (the operations are being conducted) now. The DBKL have been conducting operations on illegal structures and illegal traders, but not really on signboards. But this is something that had been planned months ago,” he said. CNA has sent queries to DBKL on the timing of its enforcement. In a statement on Nov 25, DBKL said its enforcement of signage regulations is consistent with the role of Malay as the national language or the official language of Malaysia. This was in line with the Local Government Act, it said. DBKL said that all business-premise owners must apply for a licence for their signboards and that owners would need to get their signboards visually verified by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), the government agency responsible for coordinating the use of the Malay language and Malay-language literature. “All advertisements must be in the national language and can also be in any other language. Letters for words in the national language should be given priority and should be of a larger size compared to the letters or words in other languages,” said DBKL. This year, it has collaborated with DBP to carry out enforcement operations in six shopping malls, with 31 notices being issued, it said. DBKL, however, said that if the name of a firm, association or company registered under the Registration of Businesses Act 1956, Companies Act 1965 or Societies Act 1966 contains words that are not in the national language, they do not need to be translated into the national language. Local government expert Derek Fernandez told CNA this means trade names or copyrighted proprietary names, such as McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), do not have to be translated to the national language. He said that according to the law, advertisements or signs must give prominence to the national language. “So for example, the word 'clinic' must be spelt in Malay as 'klinik', although the word 'clinic' can also be included in the signboard,” said the former councillor of the Petaling Jaya City Council in the state of Selangor. “There is no problem if you want to include another language in the signboard. This has been the rule all along and isn’t anything new. It is not a big issue,” he added. HOW RACE ENTERED THE MIX Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing magnified the issue when he spoke up against DBKL’s actions, labelling them extreme and claiming that tourists have questioned the openness and inclusivity of the country. “There have been some international visitors who have asked me if Malaysia is a racist country or is extreme,” he said in a Facebook post on Nov 24. The signboard issue follows an uproar over the waving of Chinese flags during a cultural event at an event in Teluk Intan, Perak last month, and Mr Tiong claimed that it could have a negative impact on tourism in the country. The Star reported that in the first eight months of this year, Malaysia welcomed 2.29 million Chinese tourists, a 160 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The signboard issue also made its way to the parliament, with Masjid Tanah Member of Parliament (MP) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin saying Mr Tiong had a responsibility as the minister in charge of culture to defend Malaysia’s national language. She questioned why his ministry’s target of five million Chinese tourists for the year was a long way from being met, despite money being spent to draw tourists from the country. Many other Malay politicians also criticised Mr Tiong for his statements on the issue. Political scientist Dr Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) told CNA that the issue was blown up after the media put the spotlight on Kuala Lumpur’s premises catering to Chinese customers specifically. “Add on Mahathir’s comments on KL malls, then it became a political issue,” she said. “The focus is on the Chinese language because of the Malay fear of supposed China-fication of Malaysia because of Chinese economic prowess vis-a-vis other groups. The recent announcement of China to host the lunar new year (celebration) in Malaysia further adds to this narrative,” she said. Mr Tiong announced on Nov 25 that China had chosen Malaysia to host its first-ever Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration held outside of the country in Jan 2025. Dr Syaza added that the government should do more to manage the racial narrative in Malaysia and prevent cultural wars from worsening. “The Chinese community feels they are targeted, the Malays feel that pushback by Chinese shows their ‘disloyalty’, and this can easily become worse. The government needs to step in now,” she said. On Friday (Nov 29), Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa reportedly urged “all parties, including politicians, to stop fuelling this controversy”. “We have many important agendas that require attention, and playing on racial sentiments like this will only create division and polarisation among the public,” she said, as reported by news portal Free Malaysia Today. DBKL has issued 264 notices and taken action against 36 premises so far this year for non-compliant signboards, she said. This is not the first language-related signboard controversy in Malaysia. In 2020, Pahang began taking action against business owners who did not use Jawi on their signboards after the regent of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said in 2018 that the Jawi script should be used widely on road signage, business premises, office signs, government agencies and all education offices. Those who flouted the rules could be fined of up to RM250 (US$56) and have their business licences revoked. Two businessmen from the state challenged the rule but lost their bid in 2023, with the court ruling there was "no irrationality, or unreasonableness or unlawfulness" in the directive by the Kuantan Municipal Council. Asked if Malaysia's language laws for signboards should be consolidated, Mr Fernandez said different states may have different requirements, and that state assemblies have the power to enact their own laws. “WE MADE A MISTAKE AND HAVE RECTIFIED IT” Businesses in the Kuala Lumpur are trying to move on from the latest episode and comply with the rules. In “Mini Dhaka”, a reference to Bangladesh's capital, a shop operator who wanted to be known only as Bala believes that action was taken in the area because of people’s grouses against the migrants there. Mr Bala, a Malaysian, showed CNA pictures and videos of DBKL officials removing signboards and posters in the area. Regular enforcement operations are also conducted there by DBKL and the Immigration Department to nab undocumented immigrants and those involved in other illicit activities, among other things. Another shop operator who asked to be known as Raja said he was issued a RM2,000 fine for having an English signboard and was told that he needed to get the name of his business registered first. “I haven’t had an issue with my signboard since my shop opened about four years ago so I don’t know why I am suddenly getting a summons and why my signboard has to be changed,” he said. At Jalan Imbi, at least three of the restaurants mentioned by DBKL in its Oct 12 Facebook post have amended their signboards. Two restaurants – Chen Jiu Riu Beef Noodles and Steam Era Seafood Restaurant – have added Malay to their signboards, complementing the Chinese and English words that existed previously. Shu Xiang Shili restaurant has erected a prominent sign in Malay on its building, where previously there were only Chinese characters. These businesses cater mainly to Chinese tourists and local Chinese. Speaking to CNA, the manager of a restaurant on Jalan Imbi acknowledged it and the other restaurants had not adhered to DBKL’s by-laws. “We made a mistake and have rectified it. There aren’t any issues now,” said the manager, who did not want to be identified. He added that tourists and other patrons are unlikely to be deterred from dining at the restaurant because of the issue.MAA Announces Increase to Quarterly Common DividendCHICAGO — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. They weren't cheering for a touchdown or field goal. They had something else in mind. “Sell the team!” they chanted. With their skid at 10 games, a season that started with playoff hopes can't end soon enough for the Bears (4-12). They will wrap it up when they visit the rival Green Bay Packers on Jan. 5. “My job is to go out there and win games,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “And we don’t focus on the outside noise. The fans are going to cheer and maybe boo sometimes. And you can’t react to that. It’s not something that we react to.” Chicago is 14-36 in three seasons under general manager Ryan Poles and has two double-digit losing streaks. The Bears dropped their final 10 in 2022 when they were tanking as part of a franchise-record 14-game skid that stretched into last year. They've never lost more than 10 in a row in a single season. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams talks with reporters after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh The slide was at six games when they fired former coach Matt Eberflus the day after a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving, following a series of poor late-game decisions. They're 0-4 under interim coach Thomas Brown, and they've been dominated by Green Bay in recent decades. What’s working The defense. A defense that has gone from ranking seventh in yards per game through the first six weeks to 25th did its part against Seattle. The six points allowed were a season-low and the 265 yards the Bears gave up were their second-lowest. “As we know, our defense has a certain standard and we’ve showed it,” cornerback Kyler Gordon said. “So, obviously syncing a little bit. Just getting back on the guys to get back right. It’s just important to know what we can do and just go in there and execute.” What needs help Pass protection. Williams was sacked seven times, bringing his NFL-leading total and individual franchise record to 67. The Bears broke their previous mark of 66 sacks allowed in 2004, when they used four quarterbacks. Their issues on the offensive line are well-documented. And so is Williams' tendency to hold onto the ball too long, resulting in unnecessary sacks. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) and offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) react while walking off the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Chicago. The Seahawks won 6-3. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh “There were miscues,” Williams said. “There were stupid sacks that I was taking, losing 10, 14 yards, which is frustrating. But I will say that I will definitely take the heat for this one just because (of) some of the situations that I put us in.” Stock up DE Montez Sweat. The Bears gave up 53 yards rushing on Seattle's game-opening field-goal drive. But the line performed better after that. Sweat picked up his first sack since Week 12 against Minnesota on the first play of Seattle's second possession, when he took down Geno Smith for an 8-yard loss. Though he's only missed one game, Sweat has been slowed by ankle and shin injuries. His 5 1/2 sacks are a big drop from last season, when he had a combined 12 1/2 for Washington and Chicago while becoming the first NFL player to lead two teams in the same season. Stock down Williams. Coming off a promising outing against NFC leader Detroit that followed some shaky outings, Williams had a rough night. The No. 1 overall draft pick completed 16 of 28 passes for 122 yards — not much more than his low of 93 in a Week 1 win over Tennessee — after throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. The seven sacks for 46 yards both matched his second-highest totals. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number 5 — The Bears once again had trouble sustaining drives, converting just 5 of 15 third downs and punting on seven of their 10 possessions. They tied a season low with 11 first downs and managed 179 yards. Chicago owns the NFL's second-worst third-down conversion rate at 31.8% and is averaging a league-worst 287.3 yards per game. Next steps The Bears have lost 11 straight against the Packers — the longest streak by either team in the storied rivalry — and 26 of 29 counting the playoffs. They've dropped eight in a row at Lambeau Field since a win in 2015.
